Business Resources
Reopening Guidance
- Food Establishment
- Food Establishment Reopening: Physical Facilities
Temporary Closure of Retail Food Establishment
COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Businesses and Workers: On May 4th, 2020 Governor Inslee signed Proclamation 20-25.3 and outlined the “Safe Start” plan, a phased approach to re-open Washington’s economy. Under the plan, businesses and activities will re-open in phases with adequate social distancing measures & health standards in place. Businesses may also need to meet additional requirements developed specifically for their industry.
Planning Guidance for Food Service Establishments
Guidance for Food Establishments During the Temporary Closure
Business and Workers- weekly update newsletter: The state Economic and Resiliency Team has launched a weekly newsletter to provide news and information to help businesses and workers navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The newsletter provides information on unemployment insurance, the announcement of a Business Response Center to answer general business inquiries around financial help, information about the Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant program, and more.
- June 10, 2020 Weekly Update: coming soon
- June 3, 2020 Weekly Update: TheSafe Start plan will open economic activity based on local public healthconditions. The new dashboard oncoronavirus.wa.gov illustrates a county-level picture of local conditions andreadiness to reopen. Keymetrics in Phase advancement are disease activity, testing capacity, healthcaresystem readiness, case investigations, and danger to high-risk populations. Additional Resources: Small Business Requirements and Resources Webinar by the state’s Small Business Liaison Team, where to submit questions on workplace safety, Safe Start phases, relief programs, paid sick leave, unemployment, and more.
- May 20, 2020 Weekly Update: The Employment Security Department (ESD) has detected a dramatic rise in imposter fraud, the Employment Security Department has published Employer FAQ and Worker FAQ to address common questions as businesses resume operations, and new, expanded criteria may allow 10 more counties to reopen on an accelerated schedule. Adams, Spokane, Mason, Thurston, Lewis, Clark, Clallam, Kitsap, Island, and San Juan counties are eligible to apply for county variances under the expanded criteria.
- May 13, 2020 Weekly Update: Guidance for phases, 8 counties jump to Phase 2 in "Safe Start" Reopen Process, new Contact Tracing Initiative announced, fraudulent unemployment claims are on the rise and more.
- May 6, 2020 Weekly Update: Governor Jay Inslee on Monday announced the state’s Safe Start plan, a four-phase approach to re-opening Washington’s economy.The state is currently in Phase 1, which includes drive-in spiritual services with one household per vehicle, auto/RV/boat/ORV sales, retail open for curb-side pick-up orders, car washes, landscaping, and pet walking.
- April 29, 2020 Weekly Update: Gov. Jay Inslee has announced the state’s first steps to ease certain COVID-19 restrictions including allowing certain low-risk construction projects to restart and allowing the partial re-opening of some outdoor recreation activities.
- April 22, 2020 Weekly Update: Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday laid out his vision for the eventual safe return to public life amid the COVID-19 outbreak.The governor in his address described the state’s approach for the gradual return to public life. Depending on health projections for the spread of the virus, some distancing restrictions may be in place for weeks or months to come, he said.
- April 15, 2020 Weekly Update: More than 170,000 new jobless claims were filed in the state for the week ending April 4 – seven times the peak during the height of the Great Recession. Unemployment checks from the state are going to workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in record time with an estimated $150 million in benefits paid since the crisis began.
For Businesses
- Safe Start Washington: A Phased Approach to Recovery (PDF)
- business checklist (PDF) for businesses as they prepare for a Safe Start
Infographics
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration Infographic: Summary of Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up/Delivery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- WA State Department of Health’s COVID-19 Guidelines for Grocery and Other Food Stores Providing Essential Services: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/GroceryStores.pdf
- WA State Department of Health’s Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Guidelines for Grocery and Food Stores: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1600/coronavirus/GroceryStoresFactSheet.pdf
Financial Information
- Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has developed a list of resources that might help address the financial impacts of the coronavirus, including mortgage assistance, financial resources, and financial scams.
- The Governor’s Office has compiled this partial list of resources to support economic retention and recovery related to COVID-19 coronavirus.
- The state’s coronavirus website has information to help sort through other benefits that may be available to you, such as paid family leave, workers compensation, and resources for small businesses
- Internal Revenue Service: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments
For Employees
- Employment Security Department
- Washington State Department of Labor & Industries: Paid Sick Leave
Did you get your Federal Stimulus? The IRS is committed to helping you get your Economic Impact Payment as soon as possible. The payments, also referred to by some as stimulus payments, are automatic for most taxpayers. No further action is needed by taxpayers who filed tax returns in 2018 and 2019 and most seniors and retirees.
- Some scammers are trying to take advantage of people. Remember—the government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get this money. No fees. No charges. No nothing. The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer. For more information: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments
- Some scammers are trying to take advantage of people. Remember—the government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get this money. No fees. No charges. No nothing. The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer. For more information: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payments
Employee Grants
- Restaurant Employee Relief Fund: https://rerf.us/